Lives Like Loaded Guns: Emily Dickinson And Her Family's Feuds (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
Enjoyed this exploration of the private life of reclusive poet Emily Dickinson - especially the examination of her writing in terms of her illness, family behaviour/personality traits.Found the (forced?) complicity in the "affair" distasteful - the fact that Emily and her sister supported their brother, despite their love of their sister-in-law, out of fear for their future. As unmarried women they relied on him to support them financially. Emily's confinement due to illness prevented her possible escape. The sanctuary of her home invaded by a woman she knew to be dangerous.Didn't make it into the battle between families for control of her literary estate. Emily's appearance and legacy were altered to make her more appealing to future readers, more feminine in appearance (examples of how her portrait was altered are included) - from plainly dressed, severe, intelligent gaze to frills and rosy cheeks. I feel that this reduces the power of her poems - the 'volcanic' energy lost.Better that Dickinson remains an enigma and her poems read without all this baggage - a case of regretting knowing more. Brilliant! Not a quick or easy read this biography looks at Emily Dickinson's life in new ways. I found a lot to interest me, and learned a great deal about the poet and her ghastly family situation.If we writers today think we have it tough and rough just read this biography and wonder how the poet survived. And I like the author's premise that Emily Dickinson didn't hide away and die away for love but made a choice to skip the limited and boring woman's role and enjoy her poetry.The author used a huge number of original letters and family documents which are mentioned and make the book a good research resource for writers.
What do You think about Lives Like Loaded Guns: Emily Dickinson And Her Family's Feuds (2010)?
Not the clearest writing, but amazing insights into Emily, her poetry and her family.
—missnormap
Wonderful exploration of Emily Dickinson and her extraordinary family.
—cd2000t
Dickinson homestead saga would make a great HBO series
—ichdu
the best source for Dickinson poetry enthusiasts!
—grobocopjr
